A mega big thanks to those who reviewed Lily Swan, Jess-Tyson, CrazyBandGeek, XxPhilxX, electrogirl88, HeadstrongNozomi, Edward'sGirlForEternity, shqiponjekrasniqi and HollowSerenity. You guys are brilliant.

Edward'sGirlForEternity - You asked why her name changed to Meghan, unfortunately if I told you why it would give away part of the story. So I'm so sorry.

Chicago, 1918

Edward's POV

I don't know what posessed me to ask Lillian to make me that promise. Of course, Lillian would never leave me. When I had asked her that promise I had said, 'If I promise to never leave you. You have to promise to never leave me'. It made it sound as though I was the one doing her the favour. As though I was trying to reassure her. In reality, I was only reassuring myself.

Lillian skipped happily by my side and I knew she had already forgotten the issue. I wish I could say the same about myself. Unfortunately I was brooding and I knew it.

"Edward... Edward!" I heard Lillian call once. And then twice. I turned to look at her. There was a concerned expression laying upon her delicate features.

"Edward, what's wrong? I've been speaking to you and you just seem to be drowning out the sound of my voice" Lillian said. I shook my head at her gently and ran my fingers through my hair. It was a habit my mother despised, but I just couldn't seem to rid myself of it.

"Nothing is wrong, Lillian. I guess my mind is still at work" I said, hating myself for lying to her. I seemed to be lying to Lillian a lot lately, but I guess it's hard to tell someone the truth, when you're still lying to yourself. The concerned expression didn't lift from Lillian's face. I didn't like that. I much preferred seeing a smile on her pretty face.

"You work too much" Lillian said. I chuckled at her words.

"Compared to some people, I am much better off than them" I said to her and we continued walking again.

Despite the unsettled beginning to our afternoon together, we soon settled into our regular pattern. We would talk non-stop, no awkward silences between us. Lillian told me about the latest escapade of her brother's and she would occasionally stop to admire a particular flower that had caught her eye. She never picked them though. Lillian would tell me that 'flowers were for everyone's pleasure not just her own'. Yet, I don't think people found as much joy in the small things as Lillian did. It was wonderful trait and I liked how she would share that with me. She made me notice things that I would otherwise overlook.

The sun was now beginning to set. I could see its last few rays trying to battle to get through the tree line. This always happened. Darkness would creep up on us without either of us noticing. It was Lillian's enthuasism that did it. It was always so infectious that we would end wrapped up in our own little world and reality would fade away.

"It's getting dark, Lillian. I had better start walking you home" I said. A look of disappointment crept over Lillian's features.

"It doesn't matter how much time we spend together, it never seems enough" Lillian said, her tone morose. I had always known that she didn't like being seperated from me, but I hadn't realised that she had felt so strongly about it. A strange surge of pride filled me at her words. She would never feel that way about Tom, but then I wondered why should it matter to me so much? Except for the obvious reason that Tom was a complete and utter prat.

"I'm glad that you enjoy my company so much" I said to her teasingly. A smile broke out upon Lillian's face.

"Well I do. Anyway, at least the distance allows me to appreciate it even more, when you are by my side" Lillian said to me cheerfully. I couldn't help but smile at that. Those words were a typical Lillian. She always looked for the good in everything and everyone. It was one of the things I loved about her most and coincidential one of the things that worried me the most. I knew that people like Tom would exploit that personality trait. And why couldn't I get that boy out of my mind? Or the thought of him and Lillian together?

I carefully unlinked my arm from Lillian's, hoping that she wouldn't notice the movement. I knew it hurt her to have me pull away, but I was only doing it to protect her. I knew how malicious people could be sometimes. I didn't want Lillian to be the subject of their hurtful gossip.

Out the corner of my eye I saw Lillian roll her eyes at my antics. Apparently she had noticied.

"Well time to walk me home Eddy" Lillian trilled. She had shortened my name on purpose. She knew that it annoyed me. There was now an impish grin stretched across her face.

"The name is Edward" I pointed out trying my hardest to act stern, yet I could already feel the grin spreading across my face. I turned my head to the side, in order to hide said grin from her.

"Whatever you say Eddy" Lillian replied and I knew that she had seen it. I turned my face back towards her, seeing no reason to hide my grin anymore. Lillian grinned back at me.

I walked close by her side as we entered the streets. As usual they were packed, filled with people as they rushed back home from a busy day at work. Most wore scowls, a sign to others of how their day had been. Compared to these, Lillian's smile seemed even brighter than usual.

I had to remind myself several times not to walk so fast. I was a naturally fast walker and Lillian took small strides anyway. I knew I needed to keep my pace similiar to hers or otherwise I would soon hear indignant shrieks from her.

As we turned into the street that her house was situated on, the crowds thinned out until we were the only two left. Lillian skipped happily to my side and linked her arm with mine, now that there was no longer anyone around to bear witness to the action. I allowed her the show of affection, now that we were alone. I liked the fact that Lillian was so comfortable around me.

We were both silent now. All I could hear was the sound of our footsteps, Lillian's so much lighter than my own. It was cold considering the month that it was and I could see both of our breathes.

We came to a stop in front of Lillian's house. A warm light was flickering in the front window and I could hear the sound of David's boisterous laughter.

I reliquinshed my grip on Lillian's arm and turned to face her. The shadows slightly obscured the shape of her face but her grey eyes were still shining as bright as ever.

"This is where I leave you fair maiden" I said to her teasingly. Lillian smiled at the familiar goodbye. It was what I had always said, ever since a thriteen-old Lillian had told me that Rapunzel was her favourite story. The wind blew down the street and even I shivered within my thick coat. I knew that Lillian must be freezing, but I suddenly found myself unwilling to release my hold on her company.

The wind had also shifted Lillian's hair and once again a piece of it fell forwards. One of Lillian's pale hands darted forward and quickly tucked the offending piece of hair back behind her ear. It reminded me of similiar movements made by Tom's hand earlier today.

"Thanks for walking me home, Edward. Goodbye" Lillian said to me, before turning to go up the steps that led to her house. Before I realised what I was even doing and before Lillian even reached the first step, my hand reached out and grabbed her arm, holding her back.

Lillian turned to face me, the surprise clearly evident on her face.

"What is it, Edward?" she asked. I stumbled with my words for a moment, unable to think of a valid excuse.

"Why do you never wear you hair down?" I asked. Inwardly, I scolded myself. Could I have thought of a worse thing to ask? Lillian laughed gently at my words. At least she found my eccentricity endearing.

"Because it always gets in the way" she explained.

"Why do you ask?" Lillian added.

"I've never seen it down before" I replied, wondering why I was continuing with this foolish nonsense.

"Surely you must have..." Lillian trailed off as though deep in thought.

"No, you never have, have you?" she finally answered.

"Well, you're not missing much" she added. Lillian began to turn around again.

"Could I see it down?" I called out. Lillian turned to face me.

"You are persistant tonight. Alright. Here, can you hold these for me?" she said as she started to removed the pins from her hair before preceding to hand them over to me. One by one the curls fell down, framing Lillian's petite face. When she had removed the last pin, she gently shook her hair and any remaining curls cascaded downwards.

I stood for a second just examining her. She looked older with her hair down. I was surprised at the length of it. It nearly reached her waist. I could just imagine how long it must take her to pin it up every single morning. I wondered why she even bothered, especially when she looked so beautiful with it down.

"You look beautiful, Lillian" I said to her. Even in the darkness I could see Lillian blush and in the prominent silence, Lillian's scoff of disbelief could be clearly heard.

"It's the truth, Lillian. You know that I would never lie to you" I said, suddenly needing to convince Lillian of that fact.

"You would if it kept me safe" protested Lillian, as she held out her hand for her hair pins. I had to nod at her words. She was right. The only time I would lie to Lillian would be in order to keep her safe. I reached out and placed Lillian's hair pins on her outstretched palm. Her small almost fragile fingers closed around them.

"Still. This isn't one of those times" I pointed out and once again I saw her blush.

"Thank you, Edward" I heard her mumble and she shifted uncomfortbly on the spot. I sighed gently to myself. So gently, that Lillian was unable to hear it. I hadn't meant to make her feel uncomfortable.

"You had better go inside, Lillian. You'll get cold otherwise" I said to her. Now this was the role I felt most comfortable in. Acting as Lillian's protector. Lillian nodded her ascent to my instructions.

"Goodbye, Edward" Lillian said. Once again she went to walk up the steps to her house and this time I did not stop her.

"Goodbye, Lillian" I told her, just before I heard the front door click as it closed behind her.

Now that Lillian was no longer there to witness my actions, I could give full vent to my feelings and I sighed irritably, before turning and starting the walk home.

Now, what had posessed me to do that?

However, much as I pretended to ponder this question, I already knew the answer to it. All my actions of this afternoon and evening all lead back to one person. Tom. Why was he affecting me like this? When I had seen him with Lillian this afternoon I had experinced a wave of anger and jealousy. It was a wave of anger and jealousy that did not seem to want to end.

I could fully understand why I felt anger towards Tom. I knew what he was like. I hadn't been lying to Lillian earlier when I had told her, that I had heard of and seen things that Tom had done, that her innocent mind would just not be able to comprehend. I knew how Tom would ruin someone as wonderful as Lillian. He would break her. He may be acting the gentleman now (and I knew that was just an act to get close to Lillian), but once he had her, he would let his true colours show. I didn't want to see Lillian break. So yes, anger I could understand. As her friend it was my duty to keep her safe from creeps like Tom. But I couldn't understand jealousy.

Why would I be jealous of Tom? I didn't own Lillian, she could talk to who ever she liked. Then again, the people Lillian usually talked to, didn't talk to her like Tom had. Jealousy. True, I had never liked sharing Lillian's attention with somebody else, but this time it ran deeper than usual. This wasn't the same kind of jealousy I felt when Lillian spoke so affectionately of her brother, this was different. Was I jealous because Tom got to act and talk to Lillian the way that I wanted to? That was absolute rubbish. I couldn't feel that way about Lillian. She was my closest friend and practically my sister. Then why all these jealousy?

I shook my head, trying to rid myself of traiterous thoughts. Analysing my feelings towards Lillian was not helping me at all. In fact it was just making matters worse. Right now I needed to focus on what was really important and that was protecting Lillian from Tom.

I pulled the collar of my jacket up as the wind started to blow even more violently. I didn't mind the strength of the wind, it suited my mood perfectly. I was nearly home now. The same warm glow that had been present in the front window of Lillian's house, could now be seen in mine.

My apprehension grew as I approached the house. I was late. All that commotion I had caused about Lillian's hair had held me back and I wasn't looking forward to my father's thoughts on my punctuality. Or in this case my lack of punctuality.

I entered the house and instantly felt warmer, now that I was sheilded from the wind's fierce gales. All I could hear was silence as I walked to the kitchen, where I knew my parents would be.

"You're late" my father said bluntly. Both my parents sat at the table, empty plates in front of them. As my father stood up, his chair scraped across the floor. My mother frowned at the noise.

"You were with that girl again, weren't you?" he asked. Inwardly, I seethed. I had never ever heard my father refer to Lillian by anything, but 'that girl'.

"Yes. I'm sorry I'm late" I said. My eyes locked with my mother as I said those words. My apology was mainly for her benefit anyway. My father didn't seem to notice that I wasn't focused on him. He certainly ignored my apology anyway.

"That girl is far too young for you to be socialising with. You should be with people your own age and sex. There is something mighty strange about that family. Something wrong with the father. He didn't just up and leave the army. I would bet this house, that he was kicked out" my father ranted. He always said the same thing about Lillian's father. It made me nervous, because I knew that my father was closer to the truth than he realised. There was no way he could find out the truth, it would be just another black mark to Lillian's name.

"Edward" chatisied my mother. The chatisisment was aimed for my father not me. I glanced gratefully at her. I could always depend on her. My father glanced at her too. He took in the look my mother had on her face and gritted his teeth before turning to leave the room. I let out a sigh of relief as I heard the kitchen door close behind him.

"Ignore your father. There have been more redundancies at work and it's worrying him. Now how is dear Lillian?" my mother said as she approached the stove. I smiled gratefully at her as I saw her pull a plate full of food out of it. She had kept my dinner warm for me.

"I haven't seen the young lass for ages. Mind you, she's not so young now, she's sixteen soon, isn't she?" my mother added as she placed my plate down on the table. Where as my father seemed to despise Lillian, my mother had almost had the opposite reaction. In her eyes, Lillian was the daughter that she had never had.

"Lillian's fine, mother. She's going to be sixteen in six months time" I replied, sitting down at the table. My mother sat down on the opposite side of the table to me. She seemed to be deep in thought.

"Almost sixteen. I bet she's turned into a pretty little thing now" my mother stated as she stared into space.

I focused my gaze downwards, towards my meal, not wanting to tell my mother that yes, Lillian certainly had turned into a pretty little thing.

Please review! Pretty please?